JUST IN: In sentencing memo, attorneys for Kevin CLINESMITH — who pleaded guilty for altering an email related to Carter Page FISA — seek sentence of probation.
His career and reputation are "in shambles" they say, and that's punishment enough.
The memo describes Clinesmith's conduct as a "grievous mistake" — a decision to "cut a corner" rather than intentionally lie in the process of surveilling Page.
UHH: One of the character witnesses for Clinesmith wants the judge to know that Clinesmith:
-Had his Bachelor Party at the Daytona 500
-Once organized a Taylor Swift Madness Contest to replace March Madness canceled bc of Covid
-Introduced him to the Untitled Goose Game.
NEW: An FBI attorney who pleaded guilty to altering an email used to obtain a FISA warrant on Carter Page asked a judge to sentence him to probation, describing his conduct as "a grievous error" and corner-cutting, not a sinister act.
@joshgerstein JUST IN: Prosecutors say Clinesmith should get "at least" 3-6 months in prison (the upper end of the guidelines). They say his altered email was material to the Carter Page FISA and that his abuse of a position of trust.
@joshgerstein Prosecutors also said the fat that Clinesmith's wife is pregnant shouldn't factor into the judge's thinking and that the fact he's suffered career/reputational consequences also don't merit a sentence of probation.
GOP speaker in Arizona says Trump effort to overturn election is an affront to lawmakers' oath of office.
"It would violate ... the basic principles of republican government and the rule of law if we attempted to nullify the people's vote based on unsupported theories of fraud."
BUT: Dozens of Republicans in Pennsylvania's legilsature — including House speaker — are urging their congressional delegation to challenge Joe Biden's win in the state on Jan. 6.
It comes amid a growing pressure campaign from Trump/Giuliani. Story TK.
The errors have been significant. In a Wisconsin suit, they sought video footage from a voting center in Detroit. An affidavit in MI named a nonexistent county. And a legal expert mixed up MI communities with MN ones.
Powell acknowledges the errors and says they’re simply the result of being human and relying on a small team working around the clock. Her full statement:
NEW: Barr appointed DURHAM as a full special counsel -- with the same powers Mueller had -- on Oct. 19.
The appointment order:
Relatedly: Today is the three-year anniversary of Michael Flynn's guilty plea.
NEW: AG Barr's appointment of Durham as special counsel — kept secret for six weeks — creates a series of tripwires for the incoming Biden administration and whoever he designates to be attorney general.
Trump’s absolute last stand to subvert the election will come Jan. 6, when his allies in Congress say they may formally challenge Joe Biden’s victory.
It’s a complicated, little-used process that could get messy — but is unlikely to change anything. politico.com/news/2020/11/3…
Some House Democrats attempted to do this in 2001 and 2017, when Gore / Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College. Both times, no senators would join them, shutting down the process.
This time, a handful of Senate Republicans have countenanced Trump’s baseless claims of widespread fraud. Rand Paul lodged his own over the weekend. politico.com/news/2020/11/3…